The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday said all the problems, including terrorism and lawlessness, could not be contained unless business community come forward and sacrifice to resolve the issues. Eradication of terror and other social evils could be tamed by providing quality education to the young generation of whom many are deprived of education, said Zubair Ahmed Malik, president FPCCI. Talking to Jahangir Akhtar, a noted social and political worker, he said that Article 25-A of Constitution obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children but situation on ground is very different. He noted that government lack resources to provide education to all those who deserve it, therefore business community should come forward and contribute towards the noble cause of nation building. The business community should play their due role to safeguard their own interests and that of future generations as government alone could not overpower problems, he stressed.Zubair Ahmed Malik supported the proposal of Jahangir Akhtar who has asked the business community to pay a small portion of their profit the promotion of education. He noted that a reason behind increasing anarchy is population explosion which is adding two million youths to the job market annually with no opportunities. Moreover there are around 30 million school less children while some 20 percent are involved in child labour which proves that our education system has become dysfunctional due to decades of neglect.About 170,000 vulnerable children live on the streets, illiterate, uneducated and most without family, they grow into seasoned criminals, drug addicts or fall prey to militancy, FPCCI chief observed. Akhtar said that youth were falling prey to crimes and terrorism due to lack of opportunities and skills while the government lacked resources to provide jobs to tens of millions of unemployed. He added that situation could take a positive turn if business community agreed to contribute for the purpose of education. Such a move will help establish quality educational institutions across the country providing good schooling as well as technical skills to youth who would be able to earn a respectable living.
